Rid — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈrid/

Meaning & Definition of Rid

Rid (verb)

  1. to make free, relieve, disencumber
  2. save, rescue

Rid (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers

    "worked two jobs to rid himself of debt"

    similar: clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, relieve, unburden
    related: discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue, disengage, disentangle, extricate
    opposite: burden, encumber, saddle
    near: bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

Related Entry: Ridden (verb)

Ridden is a different word from Rid. The synonyms below are for ridden, not for rid.

  1. to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults

    "that supervisor is always riding everyone for every little thing"

    similar: baited, hassled, hazed, heckled, needled, taunted, teased, made game of, picked on
    related: derided, gibed, jeered, mocked, ridiculed, annoyed, bothered, bugged, burned (up), chafed, fretted, frosted, galled, gnawed (at), got, grated, griped, hacked (off), hagridden, irked, irritated, itched, nagged, narked (British), nettled, peeved, pestered, piqued, put out, rasped, riled, ruffled, spited, troubled, vexed, aggravated, exasperated, goaded, tested, tried, aggrieved, agitated, bedeviled, beleaguered, discomforted, disturbed, perturbed, badgered, dogged, hounded, browbeaten, bullied, hectored, harassed, harried, persecuted, plagued, terrorized, tormented, tortured

  2. to make fun of in a good-natured way

    "his wife couldn't resist riding him for forgetting his own birthday"

    similar: chaffed, jived, joked, joshed, kidded, rallied, razzed, ribbed, roasted, teased, goofed on (slang), taken the mickey out of (British)
    related: bantered, fooled, funned, strung along, jested, quipped, wisecracked, gagged, japed, jollied, yukked (slang)

  3. to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air

    "a condor riding high in the sky"

    similar: drifted, floated, glided, hovered, hung, poised, sailed, swum, wafted
    related: bobbed, dangled, suspended, buoyed, ballooned, rafted
    opposite: settled, sunk
    near: dived, lunged, plunged, dipped, immersed, submerged, submersed

  4. to be determined by, based on, or subject (to)

    "our plan for the party rides on whether he can come"

    similar: depended, hinged, hung, turned
    related: based, established, founded, rested, stayed, grounded

Related Entry: Rode (verb)

Rode is a different word from Rid. The synonyms below are for rode, not for rid.

  1. to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults

    "that supervisor is always riding everyone for every little thing"

    similar: baited, hassled, hazed, heckled, needled, taunted, teased, made game of, picked on
    related: derided, gibed, jeered, mocked, ridiculed, annoyed, bothered, bugged, burned (up), chafed, fretted, frosted, galled, gnawed (at), got, grated, griped, hacked (off), hagrode, irked, irritated, itched, nagged, narked (British), nettled, peeved, pestered, piqued, put out, rasped, riled, ruffled, spited, troubled, vexed, aggravated, exasperated, goaded, tested, tried, aggrieved, agitated, bedeviled, beleaguered, discomforted, disturbed, perturbed, badgered, dogged, hounded, browbeat, bullied, hectored, harassed, harried, persecuted, plagued, terrorized, tormented, tortured

  2. to make fun of in a good-natured way

    "his wife couldn't resist riding him for forgetting his own birthday"

    similar: chaffed, jived, joked, joshed, kidded, rallied, razzed, ribbed, roasted, teased, goofed on (slang), took the mickey out of (British)
    related: bantered, fooled, funned, strung along, jested, quipped, wisecracked, gagged, japed, jollied, yukked (slang)

  3. to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air

    "a condor riding high in the sky"

    similar: drifted, floated, glided, hovered, hung, poised, sailed, swam, wafted
    related: bobbed, dangled, suspended, buoyed, ballooned, rafted
    opposite: sank, settled
    near: dived, lunged, plunged, dipped, immersed, submerged, submersed

  4. to be determined by, based on, or subject (to)

    "our plan for the party rides on whether he can come"

    similar: depended, hinged, hung, turned
    related: based, established, founded, rested, stayed, grounded

Related Entry: Ride (verb)

Ride is a different word from Rid. The synonyms below are for ride, not for rid.

  1. to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults

    "that supervisor is always riding everyone for every little thing"

    similar: bait, hassle, haze, heckle, needle, taunt, tease, make game of, pick on
    related: deride, gibe, jeer, mock, ridicule, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, fret, frost, gall, get, gnaw (at), grate, gripe, hack (off), hagride, irk, irritate, itch, nag, nark (British), nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, trouble, vex, aggravate, exasperate, goad, test, try, aggrieve, agitate, bedevil, beleaguer, discomfort, disturb, perturb, badger, dog, hound, browbeat, bully, hector, harass, harry, persecute, plague, terrorize, torment, torture

  2. to make fun of in a good-natured way

    "his wife couldn't resist riding him for forgetting his own birthday"

    similar: chaff, jive, joke, josh, kid, rally, razz, rib, roast, tease, goof on (slang), take the mickey out of (British)
    related: banter, fool, fun, string along, jest, quip, wisecrack, gag, jape, jolly, yuk (slang)

  3. to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air

    "a condor riding high in the sky"

    similar: drift, float, glide, hang, hover, poise, sail, swim, waft
    related: bob, dangle, suspend, buoy, balloon, raft
    opposite: settle, sink
    near: dive, lunge, plunge, dip, immerse, submerge, submerse

  4. to be determined by, based on, or subject (to)

    "our plan for the party rides on whether he can come"

    similar: depend, hang, hinge, turn
    related: base, establish, found, rest, stay, ground

Related Entry: Ride (out) (verb)

Ride (out) is a different word from Rid. The synonyms below are for ride (out), not for rid.

  1. to come safely through

    "just as we always have in the past, we'll ride out this latest crisis"

    similar: survive, weather, make it (through)
    related: outlast, outlive, wear out, pull through, abide, continue, endure, hang on, hold on, hold out, hold up, last, lead, persist, stand, stick out, withstand, be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive
    near: croak (slang), decease, depart, die, expire, pass (on), pass away, perish, succumb, disappear, evaporate, fade, vanish, cease, end, stop

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rid

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rid:

clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, relieve, unburden

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rid

Words with the opposite meaning of Rid:

burden, encumber, saddle

Related Words for Rid

discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue, disengage, disentangle, extricate

Near Antonyms of Rid

bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

Word Forms of Rid

Inflections: ridded, ridding

Origin & Etymology of Rid

Middle English ridden to clear, probably from Old English *ryddan; akin to Old High German riutan to clear land, Old Norse rythja

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Rid

Words & Phrases Containing Rid

ride, rid (oneself) of, rid (someone or something) of, be rid of, get rid of, want rid of, well rid of

Frequently Asked Questions about Rid

What does "Rid" mean?

"Rid" means to make free, relieve, disencumber. As a verb, it is defined as: to make free, relieve, disencumber.

What is another word for "Rid"?

Other words for "Rid" include clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, relieve and unburden. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rid" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rid"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rid". Common alternatives include clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, relieve and unburden.

What is the opposite of "Rid"?

Antonyms of "Rid" include burden, encumber and saddle. Near antonyms include bog (down), fetter, hamper and restrain.

How do you use "Rid" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rid" in a sentence: "worked two jobs to rid himself of debt".

Is "Rid" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rid" is a verb.

Is "Rid" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Rid" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Rid"?

"Rid" is pronounced /ˈrid/.